At the end of the winter of 2025, the inhabitants of the Earth will have a rare opportunity to observe a unique astronomical phenomenon – a large planetary conjunction, or a parade of planets. The phenomenon will occur on February 28, when the seven planets of the solar system—Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars—will line up in a spectacular celestial spectacle.
According to information LiveScience, the parade of planets will be visible to the naked eye, except for Uranus and Neptune, which can only be seen with binoculars or a telescope. This rare planetary alignment, which happens once every few years, will be a real event for astronomers and night sky watchers.
This phenomenon is explained by the fact that all the planets of the Solar System revolve around the Sun along the ecliptic, an imaginary plane that passes through the center of the Sun and most of the orbits of the planets. Although the orbits of some planets may be slightly tilted relative to the ecliptic, they are still more or less on the same level. At certain times, when the planets are on the same side of the Sun, they can be observed simultaneously from Earth.
Such large alignments, which include seven planets at once, are very rare. By comparison, smaller parades involving three or four planets occur much more often.
Most of the planets—Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Saturn—will be visible even without special equipment. You will need binoculars or a telescope to observe Uranus and Neptune. It is best to observe the phenomenon in places with minimal light pollution, away from city lights. Astronomers advise to follow the weather forecast to choose a clear night for observation.
While observing multiple planets at once is not an exceptional event, the alignment of seven planets at once is considered a very rare occurrence. The last such alignment took place a few decades ago, and the next similar parade of planets is expected no earlier than the middle of the 21st century.
So February 28, 2025 will be a special day for everyone interested in astronomy. This event once again reminds us of the grandeur and harmony of the Universe, opening up new opportunities for research and observation.
